Finding a Kidney
If you do not have an immediate relative or loved one who can donate a kidney, our specialists at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center can help you pursue a paired kidney exchange with another pair of people in the same situation. An exchange between two incompatible pairs is possible when the donor of each pair is compatible with the recipient of the other pair, and all parties agree to participate in the exchange.
Paired exchange programs can help when the donor and recipient have incompatible blood types or when the recipient has made antibodies to the donor’s HLA antigens (tissue type). We offer a desensitization program to patients with high levels of antibodies to HLA antigens that are reducing their ability to find a compatible kidney. We use various strategies to reduce the number of antibodies and increase your chances of finding a compatible kidney.
At Lahey, we participate in: